Come and join us for an epic weekend of Lindy Hop and Balboa
MARIE NDIAYE
Lindy Hop - France
Dr. Marie N'diaye (PhD) is a Lindy Hop and African American Jazz dance choreographer, performer and educator as well as a dance researcher.
Marie has been dancing almost as long as she has been walking, training mostly in modern Jazz. She fell in love with Lindy Hop and other Jazz dances in 2006.
The Lindy Hop is an African-American social dance that was developed in Harlem, New York City, in the 1920s and 1930s and originally evolved with the jazz music of that time. It was very popular during the Swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy Hop grew from the Charleston and Breakaway and incorporate jazz and tap rhythms. It is a Street and Club partnered dance and is a member of the swing dance family.
Jazz Dance ( or African American Jazz Dance - AAJD, nowadays also called Authentic Jazz, Solo Jazz or Jazz Roots) is the solo jazz dance that grew alongside jazz music. Flash, eccentric or class acts that you can see danced by Albert Minns, Leon James, Katherine Dunham, Marie Bryant, Jeni Legon, The Nicholas Brothers and many many more.
A true scientist (She obtained her PhD in Neuroimmunology from Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden in 2018), Marie loves history and facts. She has been applying her scientific method and dance education to conduct an embodied practice-based research of Jazz dance through the study of original video clips and collaborations with many established dancers.
She has also researched the cultural and social context of the Jazz dance era through literature study and interviews of artists. Her main focus is on the African American Jazz Women and Chorines (chorus girls) of the time. In 2023, Marie completed the Choreomundus Program, an International Master in Dance Knowledge, Practice, and Heritage. This program focuses on dance and other movement systems as cultural heritage and includes Ethnochoreology, Anthropology of Dance, Dance Studies, and Heritage Studies.
Marie worked and danced with the fantastic teachers of the Cat's Corner Studio in Montreal, Canada and Chicago Swing Dance Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. She also teaches internationally, in France, Spain, England, Australia, Russia, USA, China, Korea, South Africa... as well as at the world famous Herrang dance camp in Sweden.
Currently, Marie is a board member of the newly founded Black Lindy Hoppers Fund, an organization dedicated to support African and African diasporic dancers and artists in Lindy Hop and Jazz. She is also leading Collective Voices for Change a non-profit organization created together with other dancers and scholars in order to propose a platform to address social issues in the Jazz dance community. The current focus of CVFC is to address the issues of cultural appropriation and racial inequities in the dance scene.
CYLE DIXON
Lindy Hop - USA
At 29 years old, Cyle Dixon is a proud Cleveland native and award-winning dancer who discovered his passion for artistic expression early in life. He often reflects on how he first learned to hear music from the soul while soul line dancing at barbecues and singing in church as a child. Cyle embarked on his dance journey at just thirteen, joining the Cleveland Junior Jitterbugs (CJJ). This formative experience ignited a lifelong love for Lindy Hop,MOVEMENT AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION inspiring him to compete in and explore various dance styles, as well as, teach, create choreography and soul line dances.
Cyle's passion for dance has taken him across the world , where he has showcased his talent at numerous events, including Frankie 100, BeanTown Dance Camp, Herrang Dance Camp, ILHC, and Camp Hollywood etc. As a teacher, his primary goal is to spread love and honor the rich legacy of the art form of dance created by his ancestors or as he calls them “melanated legends and icons”. If there is one lesson he wishes to impart to every student, it would be: “Feel the beat of the music from the depths of your soul and let your creativity and individuality shine outward.”
NAOMI UYAMA
Lindy Hop - USA
Naomi Uyama discovered Lindy Hop in her hometown of Washington DC in 1997. Before graduating high school she had already been hand picked by Aretha Franklin to perform with her onstage, and hadwon numerous national level contests. Today she is a top performer and competitor and has collected
dozens of titles at such major competitions as the US Open Swing Dance Championships and the International Lindy Hop Championships. As an instructor she has taught thousands of students in over 20 countries. Today, she travels the world teaching dance and singing with her band "Naomi & Her Handsome Devils", while calling Minneapolis home.
PETER STROM
Lindy Hop - USA
Peter Strom is one of the most dedicated and well traveled instructors on the lindy hop scene today. His humor in classes is only matched by the clarity and care he takes with his students.
Since his start in 1998 he has taught at international dance camps from Australia to South Korea to Herrang, Sweden. In addition to teaching he brings with him his skills as a sought after DJ and experienced Master of Ceremonies.
He was a member of the renowned lindy hop team the Silver Shadows and the founder of Uptown Swing in his hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
RAMONA STAFFELD
Lindy Hop - Australia
Ramona Staffeld is one of the highest profile Lindy Hop and Authentic Jazz dance teachers in the world. She is known for her wildly graceful style and playful spirit on the dance floor. She is a champion dancer, holding first place titles from the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown, American Lindy Hop Championships, The International Lindy Hop Championships, and the World Lindy Hop Championships. Ramona is at the forefront of the Lindy Hop, telling her story, while preserving and passing on the legacy of the dance to the next generation.
Ramona was 14 when spotted by one of the founding fathers of Lindy Hop, Frankie Manning. Still in her early teens, Manning asked Ramona to open with him at the Midsummer Night Swing series at Lincoln Center in New York City. What Ramona values and prioritizes in class, on the social dance floor, on stage, and in life, came very much from working with and being around Frankie. Ramona began studying swing dancing at the age of 11, and has been dancing the Lindy Hop, Charleston, and jazz era social dances for over two decades.
JOEL KOHN
Lindy Hop - Australia
Joel is a Melbourne-based swing and blues dance instructor, performer and DJ, and a regular teacher at The Night Owls dance school. Starting out as a musician, his love of jazz and swing music led him to Lindy Hop - sparking a passion (some might say obsession) that has lasted nearly 20 years.
With over a decade of teaching experience across Melbourne, and at interstate and international events, Joel is passionate about sharing not just the steps, but the history, music and spirit that make the dance so special. A 2015 Australian Hellzapoppin’ champion, he is also a member of Melbourne swing dance troupe The Rhythm Reveller
TENI LOPEZ-CARDENAS
Balboa - USA
A fiery, dynamic, and graceful dancer, Teni is an accomplished competitor, teacher, and performer known for her fancy footwork and strong follower presence. For over 15 years, she has built a reputation as one of the few unpartnered followers who consistently wins titles in top Balboa competitions at prestigious events worldwide.
As a teacher, Teni brings a fun and approachable energy to the classroom, emphasizing connection, rhythm, body awareness, and technique. Her passion for dance shines through in her teaching, as she inspires students to embrace their creativity and develop their own unique style. Teni thrives when dancing her heart out and is on a mission to help others discover the beauty and joy in every shuffle and step.
JEREMY OTTH
Balboa - USA
Jeremy Otth amassed a great amount of knowledge on the historic essence of vintage swing dances and personal stories and interactions with some of the original jitterbuggs and swing dancers. His interest has focused on the Lindy Hop, Balboa, Jazz and Collegiate Shag. Along with his seemingly inexhaustible amount of energy,
Jeremy’s natural talent and dedication led him to accumulate championship titles at many acclaimed dance competitions such as the International Lindy Hop Championships, National Jitterbug Championships, American Classic Balboa Championships, California Balboa Classic and the US Open Swing Dance Championships. Jeremy is now able to share that breadth of knowledge and passion for these classic partner dances by entertaining and educating feet from Southern California to around the world.